Prevention from drowning.



. PATENTED DEG.22,,19'03'. J'. A. STEENKBN & A. SGHULZ.

PREVENTION PROM BROWNING. APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1903.

lNvENToRs,

WI TNE sax-:5 JOHAN/V A. STEENKEM' (Z/MW ALBERT SCHULZ I BY 7 ATTORNEYS.

I UNITED STATES Patented December 22, 1903.

PATENT OFFIGE.

JOHANN ANTON STEENKEN, OF BREMEN, AND ALBERT S CHULZ, OF OSTERHOLZ-SOHARMBEOK, GERMANY.

PREVENTION FROM BROWNING.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 747,793, dated December 22', 1903.

Application filed April 25, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J OHANN ANTON STEEN- KEN, a subject ofthe Grand Duke of Old-. enburg, residing at Bremen, and ALBERT SCHULZ, asubject of the King of Prussia,German Emperor, residing at Osterholz-Scharmbeck,Ger1 nany,haveinvented certain uewand fact the number of cases of drowning is still extraordinarily high. The cause of this is to be found in the fact that by reason of the force of the Waves breaking upon the wearer salt Water is forced into the mouth and nose,

- resulting fatally to the victim. The recognition of this fact has led' to the conception of the present invention, which removes such danger and yet does not obstruct the breathing. 1

Said invention consists principally of an appliance, Which we term a mask, applied to the face, the same being adapted to guard or'protect the mouth and nostrils against the entrance of Water, said mask or appliance being adapted to be held upon the head of the wearer. v

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of our invention, Figure l is a side elevation thereof in use. Fig. 2 is a front view, and Fig. 3 is 'a rear view, of the same.

It will be understood that we do not-limit ourselves to the details herein as they may be changed as circumstances suggest without departing from the spirit of our invention and said invention yet remain protected.

In carrying out our invention we employ an appliance which may consist of a mask a, preferably formed of elastic material, as rub- .ber or the like, in order that the same, particularly atrthe edges, may. conform to the Serial No. 154,360. (No model.)

mask is adapted to engage the face at a point near the top of the nose and each side thereof upon the face and the chin, thus covering the nose and mouth to serve as a guard against the entrance of water to those parts. In the'lower portion of said mask are openings or orifices slightly below a plane passing below the mouth, which are preferably covered by wire-netting b to reduce, in a meas-. ure, the entrance of water and also to break the force vthereof as the same dashes in the form of waves against the mask. Interiorly of said mask are arranged short tubes 0, with their lower ends encompassing said openings and guarded by said wire-netting, said tubes having upon their inner upper ends caps d, having apertures e therein, and within said tubes are arranged, preferably, hollow ballvalves adapted to automatically close said orifices from the inside to prevent the ingress of water as the waves dash against the mask through said openings, said valves thus being automatically forced to their seats. 'From this arrangement it will be observed that the water being prevented from entering the mask the mouth and nostrils are protected against the entrance of the water to those parts, thus providing for the safety of the wearer. Also upon the inside of said mask is arranged, preferably, an oblong or elliptical socket g, about equidistant from the tubes 0 and slightly thereabove, within which may be read-ilyinserted a short whistle, theother end of which extends directly into the mouth of the person wearing the mask, so that said Whistle can be used as a signal when desired. Said appliance or mask may be readily applied to the head and held in position upon theface by means of rubber or elastic strips h I; It, suitably connected up, as shown or otherwise, to provide for the automatic holdingof the mask in position thereon. It will thus be seen by means of said appliance or device as the waves dash against the mask the wearer will not be subjected to the action as would be the case in sea-water, the valves before referred to automatically opening and closing as the waves strike the mask and recede therefrom, thus also providing, while of the water or its injurious effects, especially IOO protecting the wearer in this respect, for the ready breathing through the net-covered openings.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A mask or appliance adapted to be applied to the face of the wearer, provided with openings, said openings having applied thereto internally of said mask short tubes provided with automatically-closing valves.

2. A mask of the character described, having openings covered with wire netting or gauze, said openings being encompassed by short tubes upon the inside of said mask and said tubes having automatically closing valves.

3. A mask of the character described, having Wire or gauze covered openings, tubes arranged upon the inside of said mask encompassing said openings and provided with apertured caps at their inner upperends and valves automatically closing the apertures of said caps.

4. A mask of the character described, having guarded openings, tubes arranged upon the inside of said mask and encompassing said openings and provided With automatically closing valves, said mask being equipped with means for its application to the head of the wearer.

5. A mask of the character described, having guarded openings, tubes arranged upon the inside of said mask and encompassing said openings, said tubes having automatically-closing valves, and means for holding said mask upon thehead of the wearer, comprising strips connected to said mask and adapted for their automatic retention in place.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHANN ANTON STEENKEN. ALBERT SGHULZ.

Witnesses:

F. KAYSER, CHR. REYSER. 

